________________
58
commented that he was killed not by Agadadatta's bravery but by his wife's looks.
As if by magic, Agadadatta's entire escort except Madanamañjari disappeared and he found himself alone in the whole wild wood. However he travelled further confidently. On his way, he was joined by two peasants who told him that the forest ahead was still more dangerous than the one that he had traversed because of the presence of a terrible robber, a mad elephant, a ferocious tiger and a venomous snake. Agadadatta assured them of his help and they all proceeded.
An ascetic came along and sought his company; Agadadatta felt suspicious and decided to be watchful. On the way at a certain place where the party rested for a meal, the ascetic offered to treat them as his guests since he was, as he said, well acquainted with that part of the forest and people living there. He fetched rice cooked in milk and served it to every one. Agadadatta quietly directed the members of his party not to eat it but even then some did taste it and they fell unconscious. The ascetic started hitting the others with his arrows and Agadadatta quickly retaliated. He struck the ascetic at a vital spot and as he was dying he asked Agadadatta to meet his wife Jayasri who lived in a house underground. Agadadatta should first go to a temple beyond the yonder hill between the two rivers that flow there and if he looked carefully behind the temple, he would see a thin flat stone under which was a passage to the house. Agadadatta was to go to the house and be its master. After giving these instructions the robber died but not without a request to Agadadatta to perform his funeral. Agadadatta proceeded to discover the house and the beautiful Jayasri. He was quite overwhelmed by her looks and youth till Madanamañjari who was with him warned him that he was not to neglect her for the sake of this Jayasri. He promptly left the house and continued his journey towards his parent's town.
On their way, they met some woodlanders who looked terrified by a mad elephant as they said, Madanamañjari started trembling out of fright but Agadadatta faced the elephant with courage and tamed him in the same way as he had done before. As they went ahead, the ferocious tiger, about whom they were told leaped at
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
